The current Race to Dubai leader and US PGA champion, Martin Kaymer, has decided not to take up US PGA Tour membership next season. Speaking in the build-up to this week’s Race to Dubai finale (in Dubai, of all places), the 25-year-old made it clear that the European Tour will still be the circuit he calls home next year:

“To play both [tours] doesn’t fit schedule-wise, I consider the European Tour as my home… I will stick to the European Tour. I will play probably two or three more events in America but I will play in Europe.”

Though there has been an undoubted effort on behalf of top European Tour players to give the impression that their scheduling decisions owe more to patriotism and loyalty than anything else, I suspect the likely structure of the FedEx Cup has probably played a crucial role in alienating the top tier of European talent.

With little else to commend it to players other than the unlikely prospect of winning TEN MILLION DOLLARS, the playoffs can be seen as an exhausting commitment, particularly given that the rise of the European Tour’s Asian schedule means that early October need not mark the end of worthwhile competitive golf. In that context, playing seven or eight weeks in close succession at the tail-end of the summer does not a sound decision make.

Nice to see that for some guys it is not all about the money. Maybe its as simple as these guys deciding that they get paid handsomely either way, so they decide do what makes them happy. And who knows maybe the events on the Euro tour are more enjoyable to play in. With the quality of play as it is now, I’ve been watching more Euro Tour action. Some people say the broadcasts are boring, but I find them less idiotic and mind-numbing than US ones.

The PGA tour is no longer the sole conduit through which players can get into the premier tournaments or move up the world rankings.

Why would they care about pleasing Tim Finchem or the FedEx Cup when they can earn enough world ranking points (becoming even easier now with the # of high ranking players ever-increasing in Europe) to get into the majors and all the WGC events? Those are the only State-side events they would really want to play in anyway.

Given they can already get into those events through the European tour, essentially what Westwood/McIlroy/Kaymer are saying is they’d rather play in the Omega Masters than the Bob Hope Classic. I don’t blame them given the circumstances.

@ Shoshana – You are correct with your insights. In addition, the PGA Tour is much deeper than the E. Tour and thus it is easier to win on the E. Tour. Also until they start winning multiple times a year, why not stay on the Tour that affords them that. AS long as they keep thier rankins up, they will get into at least 3 Majors and the WGC, whuch is what’s important. To join the PGA vs. E. tour is “Much ado about Nothing”

I say Good Riddance to the Euros. Having Kaymer and Westwood boycott the FedEx Cup will not hurt the event at all. Neither of these guys move the needle for the American viewers, so it won’t be a factor. It seems to me that the Euros are trying to hide in Europe with their high rankings. Good luck with that.

Fact is that 6 of top 10 and 12 of the top 20 hold European Tour Cards.

Another fact is that even excluding WGC and the Majors more there is more movement towards the States than vice versa for tournaments (Bay Hill, Players etc.)

I would however that it shouldn’t be about attracting the strongest viewing figures but attracting the strongest lineups and it’s impossible to argue that by losing Kaymer, Mcilroy and Westwood the playoffs are weakened.

Why not watch 2011 to see if these guys continue their good play. This is golf we are talking. Very few players over the years can consistently play well year after year. The normal cycle is up and down. To determine greatness, the career has to be done over consecutive years of multiple wins and also win multiple majors. Until the Euros win multiple times, they will not be missed. Top 10s do not move the needle.

It’s too easy to call pot a gateway drug. If 90% of drug abusers once used pot, and we can now attribute their drug use to that, what % of drug abusers once used alcohol? I would guess THAT number is close to 99%! Do we call alcohol a gateway drug? And I know…alcohol is a drugjust regulated by a different agency of the feds. Hmmmm. Just sayin.’

Westwood has always been a just average golfer now he is complete wash up getting chunky and fat. He would not have a chance in the USA anyway. McIlory will not make it with his new clubs (big mistake on his part. I do not think he will win a tournament this year. Kaymer is just flat out making a mistake. Maybe he likes playing with losers like Westwood.